“She’s very excited about the Zumbathon, she feels it’s her contribution to the world,” said Melissa Miller, one of the Zumba instructors organizing the event. “She wants to feel she made a big impact — we need as much support as we can.”

Kristin Nelson, another Zumba instructor whose daughters are friends with Caitlin, described Friday’s event as “one huge dance party in her honor.”

“We’re thinking of this as an early birthday celebration,” Nelson said. “We’re hoping for a miracle that she’s going to turn 10.”

“Her mother said this event has to go on and it has to be a celebration and we have to raise awareness,” Nelson said.

The Dickey family is especially interested in spreading awareness of pediatric cancer, Carrie Tamutus, executive director of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, said. Cancer is one of the leading causes of youth deaths but the National Cancer Institute allocates less than 4 percent of its research money toward it, Tamutus said.

“They really want it to be a celebration of Caitlin, a celebration of her life and more importantly to spread awareness of pediatric cancer,” she said. “People need to face the fact that pediatric cancer is around and it’s underfunded.”

Caitlin was first diagnosed with brain cancer at age 5. She successfully beat the disease into remission but relapsed in February and has since been diagnosed with an incurable grade four glioblastoma.

Tamutus spent all of Wednesday morning with the Dickey family, which she said was difficult but heartening. She has traveled with the family for some of Caitlin’s treatments at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“Caitlin has an incredible spirit, she’s an amazing, wonderful person, and I’m so glad I had the chance to love her and her family,” Tamutus said.

Friday’s event will feature a 4:30-5:30 p.m. Zumbatomic class for children 10 and under, a 7-9 p.m. Zumbathon class for adults, and a raffle, Nelson said. Tickets for the adult class are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children’s class participants are encouraged to make small monetary donations or give items that could be given to hospitalized children.